An Invitation to Help Firmly Establish Our Parish By Working to Discover Who We Are and What our Purpose Is-

Leaders from both the Archdiocesan Departments of Lay Ministries and Stewardship will be coming to St. Raphael Church on October 7-8 for the first of two weekend sessions to work with parish leaders and all those interested to help us discern what our purpose, vision and goals are as the local expression of the Holy Orthodox Church in Iowa City. All are welcomed to participate. The more, the better. This is for the building up of our church and its firm establishment for the future. The commitment is for Friday evening and both morning and afternoon on Saturday. Bring your own lunch! A second similar weekend will be scheduled to continue the work.

Events and Information Related to Syria-

As members of a parish that is part of the Antiochian Archdiocese, we must not forget about the ongoing tragedy that has befallen our Middle Eastern brothers and sisters in Christ, and which of course, affects all people in that region. The death toll in the war in Syria is approaching 500,000 by some estimates, with many, many more injured and displaced. Just last week, American and allied forces bombed Syrian army positions, causing dozens of deaths and emboldening and helping our stated opponent ISIS. A few days ago, a UN aid convoy was bombed, possibly by Russia. Many were killed and as a result ,all humanitarian aid was stopped. Indeed, the fog of war is great and violence always breeds more violence.

There are a few events coming up in Iowa City, which will touch on the current situation in Syria and the greater Middle East. They are:

Wednesday, September 28 at 6:15PM there will be a showing of "7 Days in Syria" in Room E105 of the Adler Journalism Building at 104 W. Washington.

Thursday, September 29, 11:45am- Journalist Janine di Giovanni will present a talk titled "The Human Face of the Middle East Refugee Crisis" in the Fellowship Hall of the Congregational Church at 30 N. Clinton St. $14 entry fee, includes lunch.

Finally, if you have Netflix, Fr. Ignatius recommends the 40 minute documentary "The White Helmets" which focuses on the brave civil defense corps who are the first responders every time there is a bombing in the urban areas of Syria.

Special Fall Appeal-

We were not able to organize a Fall Festival, as originally planned. We had hoped that this effort, in addition to raising the church's profile in our community, would also be a fundraiser. We planned our budget, assuming that the festival would make the church some money. As was announced following liturgy today, a generous benefactor has stepped forward and offered to match, dollar for dollar, up to $1000, donations that are given to the church to make up for the lack of the festival income. If you were planning to help out by making food or otherwise volunteering for the festival, please consider giving a donation to the church instead. Mark that it is for the Fall Special Appeal so that your funds can be matched. This is a separate effort from the annual fall appeal to fund our 2017, which you will be hearing about shortly.

Do You Like to Cook?-

Did you know that we have four food teams who are assigned to bring food to share after liturgy each Sunday? If you are not currently on a food team and would like to be, please see Becky Morey or Fr. Ignatius. We will gladly help you to find a team that needs some additional help.

Geneva Lectures Presents: Dr. Jennifer Wiseman, Astrophysicist-

Dr. Jennifer Wiseman, a professional scientist and committed Christian, talks about the latest discoveries of how the universe has developed over a vast period of time into a place habitable for advanced life, and what the philosophical and theological implications of this can be. September 26, 7:30PM, University of Iowa Van Allen Hall, LR1.

40 Days for Life-

In giving a charge to the women of our archdiocese, Metropolitan Joseph recently listed several areas he would like them to focus on raising funds for and awareness of, and one of them was helping unborn children and their mothers. There is tremendous pressure on some women to end their pregnancies in abortion, an act that the Church has always considered as tragic and akin to murder. One opportunity to defend the unborn and show love to their mothers is the 40 Days for Life effort which begins September 28 and lasts through November 6. This is a prayerful, peaceful presence on the sidewalk in front of one local abortion clinic. A poster advertising this effort and prayer cards to be used during this effort are available in our narthex. For more information, go to: http://www.jcrtl.org/40-days-for-life.html Fr. Ignatius will be participating occasionally during this time. If you are interested in joining him, let him know. If you can't or don't want to come out to the sidewalk to pray for unborn children and their abortion-minded mothers, pray at home!

Parking on Sunday October 16-

The annual Iowa City Road Races "Run for the Schools" will be taking place on College St. and elsewhere in our church neighborhood on the morning of October 16. Streets in the area will be shut down to vehicle traffic until 12:30PM. Plan to park in the Chauncey Swan Parking Garage a few blocks to the west of church. The accessible entrance is on Washington St.

Fall Party and Vespers-

Russ and Becky Morey are opening up their home to us once again to enjoy a fall party on their farm in Mt. Pleasant on Saturday, October 29 from 4:00PM-7:00PM. We will plan to eat around 5 and have vespers at 6. There will be no vespers at church that day.

Fall Clean-up Day-

All who came come and volunteer a few hours, please come to church on Saturday, October 29 from 1:00PM-4:00PM to help with cleaning, polishing, raking and any other projects that will need tending to. We value your efforts to keep our building and grounds clean and in good order.

A Charitable Appeal From Karen Kuntz-

I wanted to tell you about a challenge I’m taking in October. My sister-in-law, Maria Wiblin and I will be walking 60 miles over the course of three days in the Susan G Komen 3-Day Walk. Susan G. Komen® is the world’s largest breast cancer organization, funding more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit while providing real-time help to those facing the disease. Komen is the only organization that addresses breast cancer on multiple fronts such as research, community health, global outreach and public policy initiatives in order to make the biggest impact against this disease. My goal is to raise $3,200 to support the important work of fighting breast cancer.

Please consider making a donation to help defeat breast cancer! Since the 3-Day Walk is a non-profit, gifts are tax deductible, and giving is easy. If you prefer to give online, my donation page is: http://www.the3day.org/goto/karenkuntz

Feel free to pass this information along to any of your friends who might be interested in supporting this cause! Thank you for your encouragement and support.

Change in Office Hours-

Due to new school and work schedules for Fr. Ignatius's family, it was necessary to shift office hours. The new hours will be 1:15PM-2:45PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There will be no office hours or matins on Fridays. There will be 9th Hour Prayers at 3:00PM on Tuesdays. If you want to meet with Father and these times don't work for you, he will work something else out. Just ask.

Orthodox Christian Fellowship-

OCF will meet most Thursday evenings with dinner at 6:30PM on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month, and compline at 7:00PM on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month.

The Lord said: “As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:31-36)

Pray for our Catechumen- Please keep our catechumen Ilya Buchkin in your prayers as he prepares to be sacramentally joined to the Orthodox Church.

Do You Have a Prayer Request? Please give it to Fr. Ignatius and he will distribute it by email to all those on the Prayer Chain. If you wish to join the Prayer Chain, please let Fr. Ignatius know.

Remember Your Departed Loved Ones With Flowers- Would you like to memorialize your departed loved ones with a bouquet of flowers to be placed in the church on the weekend of your choice? Look for the new Memorial sign-up sheet. Decide what weekend you would like your loved one(s) remembered, give $25 to the church, clearly marking it for "Memorial Flowers" and your loved one(s) will be mentioned during the Great Entrance prayers and in the weekly bulletin. If your departed loved ones are Orthodox, and you would like Trisagion Prayers for the Departed to be offered at the end of Liturgy, you can indicate that on the sign-up sheet as well.

KeepPraying for Kidnapped Orthodox Bishops in Syria- Since April 22, 2013, the Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo, Metropolitan Paul, and the Syriac Metropolitan of Aleppo, Youhanna, have been in captivity and have not been heard from. Please pray for their well being and release and also pray for their captors as well.

Food for Thought-

The remembrance of Josiah is like the composition of incense prepared by the work of the perfumer. In every mouth it is sweet like honey and like the music at a banquet with wine. He led in the conversion of the people, and he removed the abominations of lawlessness. He directed his heart to the Lord, and in days of lawlessness he strengthened godliness.